Politics (uk) Flashcards
Define representative democracy
and 3 state features.
The people elect representative to make decisions on their behalf.
indirect.
1 - elections fptp in the UK
2 - civil liberties protected Human rights act 98
3 constitutional check for power concentration
Advantages of representative democracy.
1 practical for large modern state
2 better for minority to not be overtaken by tyranny.
3 accountability is clear
4 better informed
Disadvantages of representative democracy
1 reduced participation
2 often run by elite not representing people
3 minority can be underrepresented
4 can be corrupt and avoid accountability.
pluralist democracy defintion
political system with more than one central power. (distribution)
define direct democracy
individuals express opinion themself
advantages of a direct democracy
1 equal weight to votes
2 encourages participation
3 sense of community, no representative
disadvantages of a direct democracy
1 impractical in large state
2 could feel not qualified to make decision
3 open to manipulation (tyranny of majority)
define legitimacy
acceptance of government when authority is rightful
Democratic deficit define
fall in the fulfilment of the key principle in democracy.
Is there a democratic deficit in Uk?
1 under represented minority views (first past the post)
2 house of lords lacks legitimacy as unelected
3 lack of protection of rights because of unentrenched
Participation crisis define
give example of low turnout
a lack of engagement with the political system like low turnout
e.g 2019 68 general election compared to 76 in 1979.
franchise and suffrage
key examples
Great reform act 1832
1918 men over 21 and women under 30
1928 both for 21
1969 vote to 18
pressure group definition and classification.
def: group which seek to influence government or change public opinion
sectional (interest group) promote interest of another group in society. E.g Trade union.
Cause group (promotional) achieve goal or draw attention to issue. E.g Greenpeace
Insider who have contact like CBI confederation of British industry
Outsider - like Liberty
pressure group example of success and unsuccess
success
ASH smoking ban 2007
unsuccess
fathers 4 justice - Batman five-hour protest on Buckingham Palace balcony
think tank definition and example
def: group of experts bought together to investigate topic.
E.g Adam smith institute.
Define lobbyists
Members of organisation who are paid to seek access to government or MPs.
Rights in the Uk list
fair equal treatment under law
fair trial
freedom of expression
Magna Carta
When, what and effect?
1215
To limit royal power and free trial
Human rights act
When, what and effect?
1998 by new labour Government from EU law into UK
right to life, not to be tortured, privacy.
equality act
When and what ?
2010
it compiled other legislation such as 1990 equal pay, 1975 sex discrimination act, 1976 race relations act.
CASE STUDY 1
on human rights
Abu Qatada make speeches promoting violence. Was seen as a threat to MPS, they wanted to deport him to origin but he was wanted for trail there.
8 years deportation fight as they said evidence under torture.
Political Parties function
1 representation of the people and views
2 recruitment of office holders (rep democracy)
3 policy (manifesto)
4 providing government
Funding CASE STUDY
Blair criticism after 1997 because a donator had given 1 million to new labour. Allegedly there was a connection between this and the delay in implementing tobacco ban advertising.
- money was returned
2000s political parties, election and referendum act
independent electoral commission to supervise spending
limit to 30k in constituency
donations under 5k nationally
state funding yes
1 would remove disparity in different size parties EQUAL for minor party
2 encourage participation
3 less outside influence
state funding no
1 regulation less independence
2 how much support to fund
3 compulsory contribution to unsupported party by tax.
Conservative party
traditional late 17th
One nation 1868
Thatcherism (new right) 1975
post Thatcherite 1990 after
Labour party
old labour and social democracy 1900
new labour1980s
labour under Brown and Ed Miliband 2008
Liberal democrats
when?
1988 emerged
Mention minor parties and when they started?
SNP - Scottish Nationalist party 1934 centre left for independence from UK
UKIP - United Kingdom Independence party 1991 Nigel Farage against EU
Green party 1973 centre left Ecology and social justice
Define two party system
when in the Uk?
Two parties compete for power at elections, other ones don’t have a real chance at breaking the monopoly
1945-1974 nearly 100 seats for labour and conservative
Single party dominance. 79-97 and 97-10
Define two-and-a-half party system
two parties are dominate but are challenged by growth of second party
Multi party system
in uk?
Number of parties contend to from government (norm of coalitions)
Coalition government 2010-2015 with liberal democrats 23 percent
devolved bodies party system?
Multi-party because of additional member system which gives representation to smaller parties.
Function of elections
1 to represent community
2 choose government at general election legitimately
3 government is held accountable
(re-elect or reject)
4 participation of electorate
First past the post
define the system and where used
Used for UK general election, by-election local council
Single vote next to candidate, it is a simple plurality system. Largest votes wins. Not necessary majority.
Advantages of FPTP
1 simple for voters, fast.
2 strong and stable government (2-party system)
3 exclusion of extremist
4 strong link between MP and constituency as single
Disadvantages of first past the post
1 Government with less than 50 percent of vote - not overall majority
2 national level it elected on minority of popular vote (Blair 35 percent re-elected)
3 not proportional - votes do not translate to seats as it valued concentrated more
4 limited voter choice like safe seats
5 votes have unequal value
Additional member system
define the system and where used
Scottish parliament, Welsh assembly, and greater London assembly
Two votes one is for representative (fptp) and one is a party list for multi-member constituency
Advantages of AMS
1 proportional element with party list
2 fptp maintains a strong link between candidates
3 wider choice like can pick from different parties
disadvantages of AMS
1 two level of member can conflict with responsibility
2 complicated/confusing
3 not fully proportional
Single transferable vote
define the system and where used
Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish council
Multi-member constituency
voters vote in preference 1,2,3
achieve a quota to be elected (droop formula) vote divide seta add one
if none reaches then choice out of top two
Advantages of STV
1 close correlation between vote and seat
2 voter choice
3 power sharing
Disadvantages of STV
1 not fully proportional
2 in large constitutes the link is weak
3 power sharing can make conflict
SV
define and advantages/disadvantages
London mayor and police and crime commissioner
1st and 2nd preference majority
adv
1 broad winner support as majority
2 simple to use
3 small party like independent can win
dis
1 is not proportional
2 not absolute majority
Define referendum
A vote on a particular issue usually yes/no
an example of direct democracy within a representative system
when did referendums start to be common, and when was the first one?
In 1975 there was the first referendum
After new labour in 1997 they became more common. Such as Brexit and devolution.
Are referendums regulated?
Yes, since the 2000s by the electoral commission. An independent body responsible for checking wording.
In what circumstances are referendums held?
1 legitimising a major government initiative
2 deal between political parties
3 in response to pressure
Difference between election and referendum
Election is held in intervals by law (every 5 years) by the 2011 fixed term parliament act.
referendum is not a legal or constitutional requirement and is not legally binding.
In favour of referendums
1 Involve citizens directly, single issue.
2 check on politician, accountable
3 clear support for change
4 raise political awareness
5 supervision by electoral committee which decreases bias
Against referendums
1 challenge parliamentary sovereignty
2 participation low, this limits legitimacy. E.G 97 Welsh only around 50 percent
3 can be influenced by outside factors (single issue)
List referendums since 97
EC membership referendum 1975
Scottish and Welsh devolution referendum 1997
Scottish and Welsh devolution referendum 1997
Good Friday Agreement referendum 1998
Alternative Vote referendum 2011
Scottish independence referendum 2014
EU membership referendum 2016
why has FPTP survived in Westminster elections?
Suits the two largest parties
referendum 2010
its accepted because its issue to use and familiar - little desire to change
Impact on electoral system and government
Coalition government - after adopting a more proportional electoral system, coalitions and minority governments have become more common in the devolved regions.
Politics of compromise
Impact of electoral system on party representation
1 proportionality helps smaller parties
2 AMS and STV allows more choice for electorate and wasted fewer votes
1979 case study
Mention 3 points, turnout and majority.
James Callaghan minority government which lost a vote of no confidence,
crisis of the “winter of discontent”
Turnout 76 percent
Majority 43 (339) seats
1997 case study
Mention 3 points, turnout and majority.
After 18 years of conservative rule
liberal democrats emerged as a significant force
black Wednesday
Turnout 71 percent
Majority 179 (418)
lb had 46 seats
2019 case study
Mention 3 points, turnout and majority.
Brexit single issue voting
- red wall, tactical voting.
party division and referendum in 2016
Turnout 67
majority 80 (365 seats)
Influence of class on voting
define class dealignment
Abc1 usually conservative and c2de labour (working class)
This is known as class voting, in interests of particular class.
However loosing importance, which is known as class dealignment.
(process in which individuals no longer identify to class and don’t vote according.)
Voting attachment
define partisan dealignment
a process where individuals no longer identity with a certain party
more citizens have become swing voters and there is a growing sense of disillusion and apathy (disappointment or no confidence in politicians, and apathy is lack of interest or concern)
Government competence and voter choice
name theory and judgment
Rational choice theory: voters behave like customers in evaluating best option.
judgment on the competency of the governor, how successful it is in managing crisis and policy success.
What has happened to the public imagine of leaders after 1979?
Presidentilaisation
Increasingly shape voters perception of the figures. Like in campaigns
How gender, age and region affect voting
Women favour conservatives because of want for a stable society (family values)
But this lessened during Blair
Older voters are also more likely to vote conservative (property ownership) and higher turnout.
Younger votes usually go for labour as well as ethnic minorities, because of anti discriminations.
region - south which is rural and suburb is likely to be conservative and more industrial urban areas in north labour.
Influence of media in politics and its impact
example of tv
television dominating election coverage, like BBC, and debate 9,5 mil in 2010
newspaper support
change in impact? social media and influence over voters
Website and social media to communicate and reach wider audience
in 2015 conservatives spent 100k on Facebook advertising.
for younger voters.
Debate about bias in media (free media)
In a democratic society free media can be essential in holding government accountable. (especially when weak opposition)
Media bias and political party
Newspapers have partisan and will alter allegiance in response to circumstances. Sun was labour but switched to conservative.
But platforms like BBC have to have political neutrality
Influence of media (newspaper) over the public example
E.G after sun 1992 published an article and labour lost “The sun wot won it”
winning party is often supported at the elections.
